Have you ever had a really bad year? In The Second Chance Year by Melissa Wiesner, pastry chef Sadie is overwhelmed by a few bad choices that snowballed to leave her where she is on New Year’s Eve: the couch of her brother’s best friend’s apartment, working at a coffee shop after losing her prestigious position at a fancy restaurant, scrolling her ex-boyfriend’s instagram, and lamenting the end of their three-year relationship. If she had only learned to keep her big mouth shut, she would be living her dream life. When her best friend coerces her into attending a carnival-themed New Year’s party, Sadie finds a way to have a second chance.
The book follows Sadie as her wish comes true and she relives her year, determined not to make the same mistakes. In the process, she realizes that maybe what she wished for is not what she truly wants. While this is definitely a romance, The Second Chance Year also offers a deeper look at the importance of living life and pursuing your own goals rather than trying to conform to the desires of those around you.
If you like puns, you will adore some of the crazy food similes and metaphors that are prevalent in the book. Sadie’s voice is clear throughout the story and I enjoyed following her on this adventure. This is a good read for any time of year, though I particularly enjoyed it as a holiday read.
